1934 — April 15, Nevin Western Bus hits two trucks Cleveland Road near Elyria, OH–     6

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 12-12-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

—  6  Chronicle-Telegram, Elyria, OH. “Six Killed, 14 Hurt in Bus Crash.” 4-16-1934, p. 1.

—  6  Joplin Globe, MO. “Major Bus Crashes in Last Few Years.” 3-25-1937, p. 1.

—  6  Lima News, OH. “Manslaughter Charged in Bus Disaster.” 4-16-1934.

Narrative Information

April 16, Chronicle-Telegram, Elyria, OH: “Manslaughter charges were to be placed today against William Daniels, 32, of Pittsburgh, driver of the Nevin Western Lines bus in which six were killed and 14 injured on Cleveland road early yesterday morning, and against A. W. Schaeffer, 42, of Norwalk, driver of a parked truck which figured in the accident….

“The accident occurred at about 3:15 a.m. yesterday on U.S. Route 20 about a half mile west of the Cuyahoga cunty line in Lorain county….”

April 16:  “Columbus, O., April 16 – (AP) — The state utilities commission today ordered an investigation of the Elyria bus crash that killed sis persons. Herbert Baker, superintendent of motor transportation was assigned to conduct the inquiry with the aid of Sherman Gee and Harry Temberton, investigators. The investigation is directed at determining whether there might have been violations of the commission’s rules and whether additional rules may be needed to guard against similar accidents in the future

“Elyria, O., April 16 – (AP) – A special session of the Lorain co. grand jury will convene Thursday to investigate the truck-bus crash which resulted in the death of six persons here early yesterday, Prosecutor Frank E. Stevens announced today. The prosecutor’s announcement came after charges of manslaughter had been preferred against William Daniels, the bus driver, and Andrew Schaeffer, truck driver….From the stories related to [Coroner] Ward and Prosecutor Stevens by survivors, it appeared that the bus first struck a parked truck and then caromed into the speeding truck and trailer, but the driver of a truck parked at the scene declared he had not stopped prior to the accident….

“All of the bus passengers except Mrs. Daniel Brown, 38, of Akron, were dozing or sleeping when the westbound Nevin Western bus catapulted against the eastbound truck and trailer, driven by Kirkpatrick.

“Daniels declared a parked truck loomed suddenly ahead, and that it had no tail light burning. He

swung the wheel. The right windows of the bus were splintered by the high tail gate of the parked truck, and then the passenger-laden car [bus] caromed into the path of the eastbound truck. 

“Kirkpatrick related later that ‘I pulled clear in the ditch to get away from an accident. I figured it was only my life against a bus load of people and turned out.’

“The impact crushed the top off the bus down to the level of the window sills. Passengers on the left side received the full force of the crash and all of those killed were on that side. The chassis ran on for 75 feet….”  (Lima News, OH. “Manslaughter Charged in Bus Disaster.” 4-16-1934.)

Sources

Chronicle-Telegram, Elyria, OH. “Six Killed, 14 Hurt in Bus Crash. Bus Driver Bound Over to Grand Jury.” 4-16-1934, p. 1. Accessed 12-12-2024 at:

https://newspaperarchive.com/the-chronicle-telegram-apr-16-1934-p-1/

Joplin Globe, MO. “Major Bus Crashes in Last Few Years.” 3-25-1937, p. 1. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=166879500&sterm=salem+bus+bridge

Lima News, OH. “Manslaughter Charged in Bus Disaster.” 4-16-1934. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=10924380&sterm=bus+truck+elyria